Recent rainfall has boosted water supply at Algarve dams
The Algarve’s dams have reached 49% of their total storage capacity following recent rainfall, ensuring water supply for more than one year, according to the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).
“The rainfall of the past days continues to recover the Algarve’s reservoirs, pushing levels from 34% to 49%,” APA says, cited by Lusa news agency.
Nationwide, the country’s 80 reservoirs now hold an average of 77% capacity.
A year ago, the Algarve’s water storage stood at 135 cubic hectometres (hm³). This has now increased to 218 hm³.
In the Sotavento region (east Algarve), water levels have risen significantly. The Odeleite dam is now at 74% capacity (96.20 hm³), while the Beliche dam has reached 66% (31.60 hm³).
In the Barlavento region (west Algarve), levels remain lower. The Odelouca dam stands at 37% (58.63 hm³), the Arade dam at 17% (4.86 hm³), the Bravura dam at 14% (5.04 hm³), while the Funcho dam is not far from half of its capacity, at 45% (21.51 hm³).
Severe weather warnings
Meanwhile, the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has warned that severe weather conditions are set to worsen, with heavy rain, strong winds, maritime agitation and even snowfall predicted. The number of districts under red alert due to strong maritime agitation has increased from seven to ten for Wednesday and Thursday, January 29 and 30.
The districts of Porto, Faro, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Lisboa, Leiria, Beja, Aveiro, Coimbra, and Braga will be under red alert from 6pm today until 6am on Thursday due to high waves. After this period, the alert level will drop to orange until 3pm on Thursday. IPMA predicts northwest waves reaching 7 to 8 meters, with maximum wave heights possibly hitting 15 meters.
Additionally, IPMA has issued orange and yellow warnings for several mainland districts due to expected heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snowfall caused by the passage of Depression Ivo.
